I'm in Mota, and they all want me to confess my feelings!

I am indeed a bit hungry now.

"Okay, let's eat together then."

The morning light was just right, bathing the room in a warm golden hue.

The two sat facing each other, and even a simple breakfast tasted exceptionally delicious as they chatted and laughed.

"Huh, did this really happen?"

"But if it's Koleta, it should be fine."

Duanmu Yan told Xia Kong what had happened last night, as if it were just a casual chat during breakfast.

The latter also revealed to Duanmu Yan that he had known Koleta since childhood, but for some reason, Xia Kong was unwilling to reveal too much about his past.

After breakfast, Xia Kong returned to her room. According to her, she had only returned about half an hour earlier than Duanmu Yan, and now she was feeling sleepy and needed to catch up on some sleep.

Duanmu Yan was about to rest after a quick wash when Floro's door clicked open.

The girl stood by the door and was visibly startled when she saw Duanmu Yanshi in the living room. She then stared at him intently with her wine-red eyes, her gaze filled with an indescribable resentment.

"Uh……"

Duanmu Yan felt extremely uncomfortable under that almost tangible gaze and subconsciously raised his hand to wave it away.

"What's wrong? Is there... something on my face?"

"Nothing," Floro snorted softly, stubbornly turning her face away, only her slightly puffed cheeks betraying her emotions. She said in a deliberately calm voice, "Just looking at some heartless jerk."

She seems angry.

But why are you angry?

Duanmu Yan didn't know.

Could it be that you've been holding a grudge ever since what happened yesterday?

Okay, I left too quickly yesterday and didn't have time to properly apologize. There were indeed some problems.

"Are you still angry about yesterday?" His tone carried a hint of helpless indulgence. "Do you need me to formally apologize?"

“I wouldn’t bother with such a trivial matter.” Floro’s voice remained cool, but her slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed her true emotions.

Duanmu Yan couldn't help but chuckle: "But you're clearly angry."

Floro crossed his arms and slowly turned his head.

She tilted her head slightly, her dark green hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall, her eyes flashing with a complex light: "Even if it is... then how do you plan to make it up to me?"

"I really didn't think things through yesterday." Duanmu Yan pondered seriously, then suddenly remembered the meteor shower Xia Kong had mentioned. "How about I take you out for a walk when I have some free time? You must be quite bored staying in your room all day, right?"

Will you come with me to clear my head?

Floro keenly caught the key word, her icy expression gradually melting, a playful smile appearing at the corner of her mouth: "Sounds good. So, where are you planning to take me?"

“By the Fufeng River.” Duanmu Yan met her gaze. “It is said that there will be a meteor shower there soon.”

The moment the words left her lips, the smile on the girl's face froze.

Her slender fingers slowly tightened, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force. She bit her lower lip lightly, her face instantly darkening.

Finally, she turned around abruptly, drawing a resolute arc, and closed the door without looking back.

In the empty living room, only Duanmu Yan stood there alone, looking bewildered.

Why is she angry again? Did I say something wrong?

Nothing.

Inviting a girl to watch a meteor shower, isn't that a pretty romantic thing to do?

Anyone else would be happy, right?

Why is Floro behaving so unusually?

Duanmu Yan really couldn't understand it.

Before he could figure it out, the tightly closed door suddenly creaked open a crack.

Floro peeked out from behind the door, her resentful gaze immediately falling on him.

"I've remembered that you'd accompany me out to clear my head."

Her voice was muffled, with a hint of defiance.

"As for when to go out and where to go, that's my decision."

After saying that, she closed the door again.

Seeing this, Duanmu Yan could only shrug helplessly and sigh.

"Ugh, that woman is such a hassle."

Volume 1: Chapter 188 Do you think I'll break my promise?

"The banquet will begin at 8 p.m. tonight."

"You better not be late!"

Koleta's clear voice came from the other end of the call, and then the call was cut off.

Duanmu Yan gently placed the terminal back on the table and glanced around the living room—Abu was happily munching on a bag of potato chips on the coffee table, his cheeks bulging.

Floro, on the other hand, sat quietly at the other end of the sofa, looking down as he turned the pages of the book in his hands, completely oblivious to the world around him.

As for Xia Kong?

Unable to bear the loneliness, she slipped out as soon as it was light.

Duanmu Yan had invited her to tonight's banquet earlier, but all he got in return was a forced laugh as she scratched her head.

"Banquet? Forget it, haha. I'm really not good at dealing with those formalities."

"Besides, the Fesari family has a close relationship with the religious order. Who knows, some of them might recognize me. If I go there, wouldn't I be walking into a trap?"

That's true.

After all, Xia Kong's identity is rather special.

It's best to avoid letting her appear in that kind of situation.

that……

Should we invite Floro to come along?

"I dont go."

Before he could even voice his thoughts, Floro, who had been looking down at his book, responded softly.

Duanmu Yan said helplessly, "I haven't asked yet."

Floro replied, "You're about to ask."

"Why don't you come along? Don't you feel bored staying at home all the time?" Duanmu Yan pressed on relentlessly.

Floro's slender fingertips gently traced the cool pages of the book before turning the page: "Not interested."

"Then tell me, what are you interested in?"

"What am I interested in?" Upon hearing this, Floro paused for a moment, then gently closed the book and looked up at Duanmu Yan. "Yes, what am I interested in? Why don't you guess?"

"I do not guess you guess guess?"

"Guess what I'm guessing, or are you going to guess?"

"..." Duanmu Yan sighed and asked, "So, have you thought it through? Where do you want me to go with you to clear your mind?"

Floro seemed thoughtful: "Hmm, I guess it's decided. You shouldn't break your promise this time, right?"

"Just kidding, when have I ever broken a promise? Anyway, I'll wait for your news." Duanmu Yan said, standing up and looking at Abu, "It's about time, we should go, Abu."

"Hey, are we leaving yet?" Abu floated up from the coffee table, rubbing his little belly. "I'm so hungry right now, can I eat something before we go?"

"Still eating? Didn't you just eat so many snacks?"

Abu, holding his little paws, declared righteously, "Snacks are snacks, and dinner is dinner! They can't be mixed up!"

"You rascal..." Woba Duanmu Yan rubbed his temples, then said, "Don't worry, there's plenty of food at the banquet, eat as much as you want."

"Really? Hehe, I'm really looking forward to it!"

……

……

The lights intertwined.

The banquet was held in the largest main hall in the city—although it was a banquet hosted by two major families, the religious order still sent a representative as a third party.

The order does not wish for a complete reconciliation between the Fesari and Mortari families.

They need the power of Fesari to restrain the growing Motari.

If these two forces were to join forces, it would surely shake the cult's deep-rooted rule in Raghu.

"Second Miss, I have arrived."

"Okay, you go ahead and do your work. I'll wander around by myself."

Duanmu Yan put away the terminal and gently smoothed out the fine wrinkles on the dress with his slender fingers.

He looked up at the brightly lit main hall, where the light from the crystal chandelier refracted into countless points of light on the smooth floor.

The air was filled with the melodious strains of strings and the aroma of champagne, but beneath this glitz and glamour, undercurrents were silently surging.

I hope everything goes well at today's banquet.

Then, he strode off and calmly blended into the dazzling and bustling scene.

The atmosphere at the banquet was not as tense as Duanmu Yan had imagined.

Perhaps it was because not everyone present was from the Fesari and Motari families—representatives from other prominent forces in Laguna City had also come.

The guests gathered in twos and threes, chatting quietly, with the occasional clinking of crystal glasses.

The long table was laden with exquisite dishes, but almost no one stopped to eat them.

All eyes were on the banquet itself—if the two families could truly reconcile, it would change the power structure of Laguna.

These forces, dependent on large families, had no choice but to start planning early on.

"Delicious! This is really delicious!"

"Hehe, the snacks here are even better!"

"It smells so good, it smells so good..."

Abu was holding a plate even bigger than himself, reveling in a sea of ​​delicious food.

Duanmu Yan sat to the side, watching the little guy wolf down his food, and couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle: "You little rascal... look at how you eat, it's so embarrassing. This is a banquet, everyone here is a civilized person."

"What?!" Abu, with half a roasted chicken leg bulging in his mouth, mumbled in protest, "This is what I call the greatest respect for food! Look at those people, all pretentious, they don't know how to appreciate it at all. The chef worked so hard to prepare so much delicious food, how sad would he be if he knew no one would taste it? So—I'm the one who understands civilization the most! No, I mean that Mukuro!"

"You're quite good at sophistry."

“This is not sophistry! This is the truth!” Abu said. “Respecting food is the most basic courtesy a person can have!”

"Alright, alright, you're polite, okay?" Duanmu Yan shook his head helplessly and chuckled, his gaze sweeping across the banquet hall without leaving a trace.

During this time, quite a few people did try to talk to him—after all, his relationship with Koleta was an open secret in the industry.

Many people wanted to get in touch with the Motari family through him, but he politely declined them all without making a sound.

"Your Excellency Duanmu."

A calm voice suddenly broke in.

Duanmu Yan looked up and saw that Sebastian, dressed in a smart butler's uniform, was standing in front of him at some point.

"What's wrong? Is Cantrellella looking for me again?"

“Indeed.” Sebastian bowed slightly, his demeanor as elegant and proper as ever. “The head of the family wishes to speak with you privately before the banquet officially begins.”

This feeling……

Why does it always feel like Cantrellella has set a trap for him to fall into every time she contacts him?

Although she is an exceptionally good woman.